Roundup’s Don Lee reveals the secrets to his punches, John Wick casting

There’s no one like Don Lee.

Often known as Ma Dong-seok, the hulking Korean motion star has made a reputation for himself together with his huge body, punishing blows, and simple appeal. After a prolonged and profitable profession at residence, he discovered worldwide consideration together with his scene-stealing function in Practice to Busan earlier than Marvel forged him as Gilgamesh in Eternals.

Lee’s newest, The Roundup: No Approach Out, is the third (and greatest) entry within the highly regarded Roundup crime thriller franchise, which has made waves not solely on the Korean field workplace, however all over the world.

Polygon exchanged questions with the star through e-mail, discussing his motion philosophy and influences, the time he was nearly in a John Wick film, and his ideas on the upcoming Practice to Busan remake.

Polygon: Your boxing background actually comes by in these films. I’ve learn you needed to be a boxer while you have been youthful. Are you able to inform me what that boxing expertise brings to a task?

Don Lee: I’ve been boxing my total life, and thru boxing, I’ve realized about endurance and humility in life. Moreover, the motion on this [Roundup] sequence can be principally designed based mostly on boxing. Watching the film Rocky impressed me to dream of turning into a boxer. And I additionally began to dream of turning into an actor whereas studying boxing.

Picture: BA Leisure

What’s most vital to you in making compelling motion within the fashionable period?

There are numerous kinds of motion in movies. Motion involving weapons, automotive chases, fantasy parts, and extra. Amongst them, I’m most centered on motion that entails bare-handed fight with none weapons. I’ve been boxing for a very long time and even educated to turn out to be an expert boxer as soon as. So the core of the motion sequences for The Roundup: No Approach Out is boxing. Making use of actual boxing methods to motion films isn’t a simple job.

As it’s difficult, the coordination and synergy with the stunt crew are essential. Heo Myeong-haeng, the martial-arts director, and the stunt groups on this movie have been working with me for 20 years, and so they perceive my intentions very nicely. That permits us to create extra practical motion scenes. Even now, I prepare in boxing each day and have interaction in sparring classes with skilled boxers.

Which motion filmmakers and stars are doing it greatest, in your opinion? Do you’ve got favourite current motion films?

I began boxing after watching Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky sequence throughout my childhood. So Rocky is an motion film that’s irreplaceable to me. Not too long ago, I’ve seen that director Chad Stahelski, identified for guiding the John Wick sequence, delivers fashionable motion sequences. I’ve maintained a long-standing friendship with him, and was additionally supplied a task in [a] John Wick, which sadly didn’t come by. [Ed. note: The role was in John Wick 3, which conflicted with his filming schedule for 2019’s The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil.] J.J. Perry, who was in command of the stunts for John Wick, additionally created unbelievable motion scenes. Chris Hemsworth’s Extraction had some actually spectacular motion as nicely.

Picture: BA Leisure

The Roundup films have quite a lot of high-impact punching, with the motion, camerawork, and sound design all working in coordination to recommend you’re actually slugging fools. How a lot contact is definitely in these films? What’s your philosophy on full-contact motion?

Trying practical is essential, however security comes first. Whereas we by no means truly hit a co-star’s face, there are pictures the place we have to hit one another’s our bodies. Actors do put on security gear in such circumstances. Nonetheless, even when we’re cautious, the hit is powerful sufficient to just about affect the organs. These are difficult kinds of motion, however I did my greatest to make it look actual and gratifying for the viewers.

How does a disparity in physicality inform the way you strategy a struggle scene? The general public you struggle are smaller than you, however then additionally you struggle the bigger bouncer in No Approach Out. How do you alter your strategy?

On this movie, actors of assorted weight lessons, from middleweight to tremendous heavyweight, seem as my opponents. Since I prioritize realism in boxing motion, in sure scenes, I transfer swiftly as a boxer does, whereas in others, I give attention to the ability as a slugger does. In boxing matches, there are circumstances the place the opponent will get knocked out with only one or two punches. In actual life, when you get punched by naked palms with out gloves, you’ll be knocked out immediately. I needed to convey that in that scene. I’m at all times attempting to create practical motion sequences that the viewers can get pleasure from.

Does the truth that international audiences can now simply entry and watch your movies change something in your strategy?

By way of the common language of movie, it’s potential to speak cinematically throughout the globe, transcending language limitations. In relation to producing or planning a movie, I attempt to not restrict my creativeness based mostly on scale or price range. By exploring and imagining with out being restricted by manufacturing constraints and sensible circumstances, I imagine that extra fascinating content material might be born. And content material like which will transfer audiences worldwide.

Picture: Marvel Studios

After Eternals, are you interested by any future Hollywood tasks? Are there any specific franchises that enchantment to you?

The Korean movie business and Hollywood are the identical in that the entire actors and workers work exhausting collectively to make film. Mainly, essentially the most excellent distinction is Language. Hollywood movies use English, however Korean movies use Korean language. However beneath the widespread language named “film,” folks can talk with one another past the language barrier. And experiences from Marvel Photos vastly impressed me to design and increase the fictional universe once I make the movie.

Did you’ve got any response while you heard there could be a Hollywood Practice to Busan remake, directed by Timo Tjahjanto?

Practice to Busan holds a particular place in my coronary heart. I hope will probably be remade excellently.